Case for measuring tapes and the like



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,566

I R. J. o. SIMPSON CASE FOR MEASURING TAPES AND THE LIKE Filed April1926 floberila .S'bupson I J flttal L Patented Jan. 8, 1929..

ROBERT J. 0. SIMPSON, 0F ATHUL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE L. S.STARRETT COMPANY, OF ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 01;MASSACHUSETTS.

CASE FOR MEASURING TAPES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 8,

Measuring tapes have been supplied in both steel and leather cases, andit has been proposed heretofore to arrange the tape in a steel case witha leather or imitation leather cover. The problem with any covered caseis to fit the cover snugly to the case in such a manner that it willpositively remain fitted under the varying conditions of use of thetape.

My present invention is directed to this general problem and aims toprovide a simple and efficient means for obtaining this result. To thisend, I construct the tape case in the form of a pair of metallic discs,having peripheral flanges disposed to abut each other and define acompartment within which the tape drum winding spring and tape arecontained. The leather or other covering material is also cut in theform of a pair of discs which are held centrally to the case members bythe usual flanged washers which afford bearing for the usual push buttonand wind ing handle of the tape, the peripheral edge of each coveringdisc being turned over upon the flan e of the case member which itcovers.

The anges of the case members are interrupted between their ends bycut-outs which, when the case members are abutted oppose one another anddefine a single delivery opening through which the tape may be projectedand retracted. Each case flange is also provided with a circumferentialgroove Within which the peripheral edges of the covering discs areconfined by a concavo-convex'split clamping ring applied exteriorlythereto, a portion of the edge of each covering disc being drawn intosaid opposing cut-outs of the case flanges for greater security. Theends of the split clamping ring are bent under the case flanges at saidcut-outs, and are clamped in this position by the bendable flanges'ofthe usual eyelet which lines and finishes the tape delivery openingdefined by said cut-outs. This construction provides a quick andconvenient method of assembly, as well as a neat and attractive productin which the covering material is positively held in place at all timesand under all conditions of use of the tape.

The construction and method of assembling my tape is described andillustrated in the accompanying specification and drawings, and thecharacteristic features of novelty are particularly pointed. out in theappended claims.

1926. Serial No. 100,535.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a tape case in accordance with my invention.

F g. 2 is an edge view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the case members particularly showingthe split clamp ng'ring and securing eyelet.

F g. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Flgure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the case.

I have indicated at 1 mental case sections havin peripheral flanges 2adapted to be abutted against each other to define an enclosedcompartment within which the tape, tape'drum, and tape retractlon springare mounted in the usual manner. Each case section is centrallyapertured to receive respectively the usual push button and tape windinghandle with which tapes of this type are generally equipped, and theseapertures are provided with the usual flanged washers 3 to affordbearing for said parts.

Each case flange 2 is provided with a circumferentially extending groove4, and each flange is also interrupted between its ends by the cut-outs5 which when the case sections 1 are assembled, lie opposite each otherand define the tape delivery opening 6 of the case.

As contemplated herein the case sections 1 are covered by a pair ofleather or other covering discs 7 which are held centrally to the facesof the case sections by the flanged washers 3. The peripheral edges ofthe covering discs are bent over the flanges 2 of the case sections andare clamped in the relation shown by a concavo-convex split clampingring 8, which is drawn over both flanges with its edges entered withinand forcing the covering material 7 into said grooves 4 of the flanges,as clearly appears in Fig. 4. The ends of the ring 8 are down-turned asindicated at 9, Fig. 3, and hooked under the flanges 2 at the cut-outs5, the covering material preferably being slitted at these points topermit it to be bent into said cut-outs and clamped by said hooked ends9.

The parts are maintained in this relation a pair of compleadapted to bebent agalnst the down-turned hooked ends 9 of the clamping ring toprevent by means of the usual metallic eye 10 which to overl'e suchedges and conceal them from view, thus adding to the neat and attractiveup earance of the tape case.

arious modifications in the construction and assembly of my device mayobviously be resorted to if within the limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a case, opposing case sections, having peripheral flangesinterrupted between their ends 7 by cut-outs, a cover piece applied toeach case section with its marginal ed e over- 1 ing the flange of thecase section with a port1on of said edge drawn into the cut-out of saidflange, and a clampingmember disposed circumferentially about said casesections and clamping the marginal edges of the cover pieces againstsaid flanges, the ends of said clamping member being hooked beneath saidflanges at said cut-outs, and an eye-piece fitted into the openingdefined by said cut-outs and formed to engage the hooked ends of saidclamping member to prevent movement of the clamping member relative tosaid case flanges.

2. In a case, opposing case sections having peripheral flangesinterrupted between their ends by cut-outs and each flange having acircumferentially extending groove, a cover piece secured to the outerface of each case section with its marginal edge overlying the flangesof the case section with a portion of said edge drawn into the cut-outof said flange, and a split clamping ring'disposed circumferentiallyabout said case sections and clamping the marginal ed es of the coverpieces into said grooves of t e flanges, the ends of said ring beinghooked beneath said flanges at said cut-outs, and an eye-piece fittedinto the opening defined by said cutouts and formed to engage the hookedends of said ring to prevent movement of the ring relative to said caseflanges.

3. In a case, complemental case sections having peripheral flangesadapted to abut each other, said flanges having each a circumferentiallyextending groove and each flange interrupted between its ends by acut-out, a

cover piece secured to the outer face of each,

case section and having its marginal edge' overlying the flange of thecase section with a portion of said edge drawn into the cut-out of saidflange, and a concavo-convex split clamping ring disposedcircumferentially about said case sections and clamping the marginaledges of the cover pieces into said ooves of the flanges, the ends ofsaid ring eing hooked beneath said flanges at said cutouts, and aneye-piece fitted into the opening defined by said cut-outs and havingdepending lockmg tongues adapted to be bent against the hooked ends ofsaid ring to prevent movement of the ring relative to said case flanges;4. In a tape measure case, two shallow casing-forming members havingopposing flanges provided with alined cut-outs which together define atape: delivery opening, a cover piece secured to each casing-formingmember with its marginal edge overlying the flange thereof, and aclamping member disposed circumferentially about said casingformingmembers in clamping relation to themarginal edges of said cover pieces,the ends of said clamping member being inserted into the tape deliveryopening and hooked about the edges of said opening.

5. In a tape measure case,two shallow casing-forming members havingopposing flanges provided with alined cut-outs which together define atape delivery opening, a

cover piece secured to each casing-forming member with its marginal edgeoverlying the flange thereof. and a clamping member disposedcircumferentially about said casingforming members in clamping relationto the marginal edges of said cover pieces, the'ends of said clampingmember being inserted into the tape delivery opening and hooked aboutthe edges of said opening, and an eyelet member projecting within saidopening and clamping said hooked ends in the relation indicated.

6. In a tape measure case, a pair of easingforming members presenting aperipheral wall having a tape delivery opening, cover pieces securedtothe casing-forming members with their marginal edges overlying theperipheral wall of the casing, and a clam ing member disposedcircumferentially a out said peripheral wall in clamping relation to theedges of said cover pieces, the ends of said ing relation to the edgesof said cover pieces,

the ends of said clamping member being inserted into the tape deliveryopening and hooked about the edges thereof,.and an eyelet memberprojecting within said opening and clamping said hooked ends inthe-relation indicated.

8. In a tape measure case, a casing having a peripheral tape deliveryopenmg, cover pieces secured to the side walls of the casing with theirmarginal edges overlying the periphery of the casing, and a clampingmember disposed circumferentially about said casing in clamping relationto the marginal edges of said cover pieces, the ends of said clampingmember being inserted into the tape delivery opening and hooked aboutthe edges of said opening.

9. In a tape measure case, a casing having a peripheral tape deliveryopening, cover pieces secured to the side walls of the casing with theirmarginal edges overlying the periphery of the casingyand a clampingmember disposed circumferentially about said casing in clamping relationto the marginal edges of said cover pieces, the ends of said clampingmember being inserted into the tape delivery opening and hooked aboutthe edges of said opening, and an eyelet member projecting within saidopening and clamping said hooked ends in the relation indicated.

10. In a tape measure case, a casing having a peripheral recess, a pairof cover pieces secured to the side walls of the casing with theirmarginal edges overlying the periphery of the casing, and a clampingmember disposed circumferentially about the periphery of the casing andtensionally clamping the mar ginal edges of the cover pieces in saidrecess.

11. In a tape measure case, a casing having a peripheral recess, a pairof cover pieces secured to the side walls of the casing with theirmarginal edges overlying the periphery of the casing, a split clampingmember dis posed circumferentially about the periphery of the casing andtensionally clamping the marginal edges of the cover in said recess, andmeans frictionally engagingsaid clamping member for holding it in therelation indicated.

12. In a tape measure case, a casing having a peripheral recess and atape delivery opening intersecting said recess, a pair of cover piecessecured to the side walls of the casing with their marginal edgesoverlying the periphery of the casing, and a split clamping memberdisposed circumferentially about the periphery of the casing with itsends lodged in said tape delivery opening and tensionally clamping themarginal edges of the cover pieces in said recess.

13. In a tape measure case, a casing having a peripheral recess and atape delivering opening intersecting said recess, a pair of cover piecessecured to the side walls of the casing with their marginal edgesoverlying the periphery of the casing, a split clamping member disposedcircumferentially about the periphery of the casing with its ends lodgedin said tape delivery opening and tensionally clamping the marginaledges of the cover in said recess, and an eyelet disposed in said tapedelivery opening and frictionally engaging the terminal ends of saidclamping member for holding said member in the relation indicated.

14. In a tape measure case, a pair of casing-forming members presentinga peripheral wall having a tape delivery opening, an eyelet in saidopening, cover pieces secured to the casing-forming members with theirmarginal edges overlying the peripheral wall of the casing, and aclamping member disposed circumferentially about said peripheral wall inclamping relation to the edges of said cover pieces, the ends of saidclampin member being located adjacent the tape deIivery opening andsecured to the casing by means of the eyelet mounted in said 'openmg.

15. In a tape measuring case presenting a peripheral wall having a tapedelivery opening, cover pieces for said case having marginal edgesoverlapping said wall, and a longitudinally tensioned band ofsubstantial width extending circumferentially about said wall incovering and clamping relation to said edges of the cover pieces.

16. In a tape measuring case presenting a peripheral wall havin a tapedelivery opening, an eyelet in sai opening, cover pieces for said casehaving marginal edges overlapping said wall, and a band of substantialwidth applied under tension to said wall in covering and clampingrelation to said edges of the cover pieces and having its ends securedby said eyelet.

17. In a tape measuring case presenting a circumferentially groovedperipheral wall having a tape delivery opening, cover pieces for saidcase having marginal edges over- I lapping said wall, and alongitudinally-tensioned band of substantial width extendingcircumferentially about said wall and clamping said edges of the coverpieces thereover.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT J. O. SIMPSON.

